Orienting core drill



Aug. 26, 1930. P. J. LYDON ORIENTING- CORE DRILL Filed Feb. 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l flis M/ 9 6 .4 n w -2 P. J. LYDON ORIENTINC cons DRILL Filed Feb. 21. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PATRICK JOSEPH LYDON, OF VENTUBA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB Q1 ONE-HALF TO E. J.

LAGOMABSINO, OF VENTURA, CALIFORNIA omnn'rmo coan DRILL Application filed February 21, 1928. Serial No. 255,962.

This invention relates to a core drill which may be used to recover cores from an oil well or exploration hole in such a manner that these cores will be removed to the surface in their true oriented position. This application is a continuation in part of my prior copending application filed Sept. 30, 1927, un-

der Serial No. 222,963.

At the present time in the drilling of deep wells, such as oil wells there is urgent need for a device which will be able to recover a core from the well in such'a form that the position of the core as it originally lay in the well can be ascertained and so that the dip and strike of the different strata found in the core can be determined. When a core can be recovered from an oil well which will give absolutely and positively the true dip and strike of the subterranean formations. the anticlines and other oil bearing structures can be properly located. 1

An obiect of the present invention is therefore to provide a core drilling apparatus by means of which a core may be recovered from an oil well or other deep or prospecting well in such manner that the dip and strike of the underground strata may be determined and the position that the core assumed in the well mav be known.

A further object of the present invention 'is to provide a core drilling apparatus. the

core receiving barrel of which may be held stationary in the well during the core, cutting operations by means of a pipe extending to the surface of the well, and a further object of the present invention is to provide a revolving cutting means mounted upon such a. stationary core barrel carrying means which is operative for cutting the core from the Well formation and feeding the same into the stationary core receiving barrel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a stationary core receiving bar rel with a revolving core cutter driven by an electrical motor located at the bottom of the well whereby the mechanical force necessary for the core cutting o erations is not necessarily applied throng the pipe supporting the core barrel and hence the core barrel may be maintained stationary in the well hole. 4

Various further objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from a description of the preferred form or example of an orienting core drill embodying the present invention. For this purpose there is hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings a core drill of the preferred form.

In the drawings Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings represent successively lower sections of the core drill. the sections being in elevation and mainly in vertical section;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Fieure'ti is a transverse section on the line 66 of Figure 3 showing one of the core guiding and marking bars; and

Figure 7 is a similar section through one of the other core guiding and marking bars.

Referring to the drawings, the core drilling apparatus consists principally of a core cutting head 2 at the lower end of the apparatus, a core receiving barrel 3 disposed to receive a core cut by the core cutting head 2, a core barrel supporting tube 4, and an electric motor 5, the rotor of which is connected to drive the core cutting head 2.

The supporting tube 4 is indicated as threaded at its upper end 6 to a slip joint 7 I which provides a resilient section in the supporting column for the core drill which permits the machine to recede under excessive pressure and prevent stalling of the motor due to excessive-weight. The slip joint 7 is I L I 14 and the top of the coupling 7 a coil spring 17 is disposed normally urging the slip joint into the extended position. It will be seen that by the provision of the slip joint thus described, whenever there is imposed upon the motor an excessive load the slip joint will be contracted to relieve the strain. This insures that in operation the electric motor will not be stalled. The head 14 is provided with longitudinal key-like extensions 87 which fit into keyways 88 formed in the sleeve 12 so as to prevent the rotation of the upper col iplling 15 within the sleeve 12.

. e upper coupling member 15 is shown as having a tapered pin 18 by means of which the core drilling tool may be attached to a string of drilling pipe and supported thereb from the surface of the well. The coup ing 15, slip joint 7 and supporting tube 4 all provide a registering passage 19 by means of which drilling fluid, such as water or mud, may be passed down to the core drilling head. The lower end of the supporting tube 4 has an enlarged head 20 to which is attached a spider 21 providing a number of discharge passages 22 for the flushing fluid passing down through the supporting tube 4 and also providing a means for attaching the supporting tube to a valve cage 23 which is threaded to the upper end of the core receiving barrel 3. The valve cage 23 encloses the core receiving barrel 3 from contact with the drilling fluid passing down through the supporting tube 4, and said valve cage includes a ball valve 24 which opens upwardly to permit an upward discharge of material from the core barrel 3.

The core barrel 3 is shown as provided with a plurality of core guiding and marking bars 25 and 26 which extend longitudinally along the inner wall of the core barrel 3 from near the to of the core barrel 3 to near the lower end 0 the core barrel 3. Said bars are attached at their upper ends 27 by pins to the core barrel and are attached near their lower ends as indicated at 28 to the core barrel, and between said attaching means 27 and 28 the bars 25 and 26 are bowed inwardly slightly towards the axis of the core barrel so as to resiliently press against a core upon its entering the barrel. Preferably, the core guiding and marking bars 25 and 26 are differently shaped in cross section so that the mark left by the different marking bars can be readily identified. For example, the bar 25 may have the cross section indicated in Figure 6 in which it is shown as provided with two marking points whereas the other bars 26 may have the cross section shown in Figure 7 in which there is a single marking point.

At the lower end of the core receiving barrel 3 there is shown provided a core engaging plug or anchor 29 which has an axial passage 30 and has its lower face provided with teeth 31 radiating from the center. This core anchoring plug 29 is adapted to have its teeth 31 engage the upper end of a core as it is entering the barrel 3 and hold said core against rotation while it is entering the core receiving barrel 3. The plug 29 thus provides a means by which the upper end of the core is prevented from rotating at a time when the core is of insufficient length for engaging the guiding bars 25 and 26 at which time there is dan er of the upper end of the core breaking of? and being rotated. The plug 29 is shown as provided with a central reduced section 32 and has an upper head portion 33 having vertical grooves 34 guidably engag- I ing the bars 25 and 26 so that said bars are operative for preventing the plug 29 revolving in operation. In operation of the core drilling tool the core as it enters the barrel 3,forc'es the plug 29 to slide upwardly until it reaches the upper end of the core receiving barrel 3. The lower end of the core receiving barrel 3 is also provided with a plurality of inwardly tensioned spring fingers 35 projecting from a ring 36 set in a recess in the lower end of the core barrel 3 and said spring fingers 35 provide a means for engaging the lower end of the core after it has been received in the barrel 3 and retaining the core therein while the tool is being elevated to the surface of the well.

The cutting head 2 of the core drill may be of any usual or preferred form of core cutting head and is illustrated as having a core cutting crown 37 at its lower end with cutting fins 38 disposed slightly above the core cutting crown for reaming the hole to a considerable larger diameter than that which would be formed by the cutting crown 37. Flushing passages 39 are indicated in the cutting head 2 which provide a means for discharging flushing fluid around the cutters of the head 2 which flushing fluid serves as a means for maintaining the cutting head cool and for carrying away from the cutting head the drillings formed thereby. These flushing passages are also preferably sloped in a direction opposite from that to which the core cutting head is to rotate so that'the pump pressure or hydraulic head upon the flushing fluid being discharged from said head may be used to assist in the rotation of the cutting head.

The lower end of the core receiving barrel 3 is indicated at 40 as packed to the core cutting head 2, and a series of ball bearings 41 are provided between the core barrel 3 and the cutting head 2 for revolvably mounting the head on said core barrel. The core cutting head 2 is attached to a casing 42 spaced from the core receiving barrel 3 to provide a continuation of the passage for the flushing fluid. The upper end of said casing 42 is in turn attached to a sleeve 43 which rovides a means for connecting the core cuttlng head with the rotor of the electric motor 5 through aset of reduction gears.

The electric motor, 5 is indicated as preferably of the induction type and as having its stator 44 mounted by a casing 45 surrounding the "supporting tube 4. The casing 45 is indicated as attached by a flange collar 46 to the coupling 7 so that it is supported in fixed position. The rotor 47 of the induction motor is indicated as mounted upon a hollow shaft 48 enclosing the supporting tube 4 and said hollow shaft 48 is attached at its upper end to a collar 49, the upper end of which engages roller thrust bearings 50 supported in a ring 51 which in turn is supported by the stator casing 45. There are also provided roller bearings 52 between the hollow supporting tube 4 and the collar 49. 53 indicates ducts through which oil may enter to the bearings 52. It is understood that in operation the casing 45 is filled with oil.

54 indicates an electric conduit carrying lead wires to the motor 5 which electric conduit passes through the coupling 55 to a conduit cable 56 which is attached by means of a strap union 57 to the lower portion of the slip joint 7 from which a tube 58 encloses an insulated conductor leading to a sliding contact 59 enclosed within a union 60 strapped to the upper member 15 of the slip joint from which a cable 61 extends to the surface of the well. The construction thus described permits an electrical connection with the motor 5 without the electrical conduits or cables kinking up upon operation of the slip joint at the top of the drilling tool. The lower end of the hollow shaft 48 of the rotor connects with a collar 62 en aging roller thrust bearings 63 supported by a plate 64 connecting with the end of a casing member 65 which is attached to the motor casing 45. The collar also engages roller bearings 66 between it and the sup orting tube 4 and an oil duct 67 is shown fhr admitting lubricant to said bearings. The collar 62 which connects with the lower end of "the hollow shaft 48 has a gear toothed neck 68 which engages the first of a series of reduction gears. The reduction gears are shown as built in sections, each mounted within a separate section casing for attachment with the motor casing so-that any number of stages of reduction gearing may be inserted in place below the motor and between the core cutting head 2, the number of which depends entirely upon the speed at which it is desired to revolve the core cutting head. Each of such stages of reduction gearing comprises a casing 69 rigidly connected with the motor casing 45 and clamping the plate 64 at its upper end. The plate 64 in turn supports pinion gears 70 meshing with the gear neck 68 and also with an internal gear 71 provided on a gear memberthe lower portion of which is formed into a gear neck 72 for operation of the succeeding lower stage of gearing. Ball bearings 73 are indicated withm each set of gearing.

The lower of the gear members 71 1s provided with roller bearings 74 engaging the supporting tube 4 and has its neck attached to a collar 75 likewise provided with roller bearings 76 engaging the supporting tube 4.

.Said collar 75 further engages vertical thrust receiving bearings 77 engaging the head 20 on the supporting tube 4 and oil ducts 78 are provided leading to said bearings and to soft packing 79 between the collar 75 and the head 20. Said packing 79 provides a means for preventing the passage of flushing fluid into the casings enclosing the gears and motor of the apparatus and these casings it is understood are filled in practice with a lubricant. The collar 75 is shown as attached to the sleeve 43 which connects with the drilling head 2. A casing 80 is shown housing the lower reduction gearing collars, this casing 80 being rigidly attached with the motor casing and is shown as provided at its lower end with floating packing 81 engaging the sleeve 43 and also shown as provided with hard packing rings 82 pressed against the sleeve 43 by-a packing gland 83. This packin prevents the loss of lubricant from the gear olding casings out into the well and prevents also the entrance of flushing fluid into these gear holding casings. An oil duct 84 is indicated as leading to such floating packing. The casing 80 also provides a number of assages 85 containing floating plugs 86 w ich permit the outside pressure of drilling fluid to be imposed upon a lubricant within the By means of the core cutting ap aratus herein described, the supporting tu e 4 is maintained stationary in the well by the string of pipe leading to the surface of the well. Thereby the core barrel 3 is maintained in a fixed rotary position within the bottom of the well. For drilling a well electrio power is supplied through the cable 61 and hence to the motor 5 which starts to transmit power through the described reduction gearing to the drilling head 2. Said drilling head 2 operates to cut from the well formation a cylindrical core which is forced upwardly into the core barrel 3 as the drilling tool is lowered. As the core enters the core barrel 3, it is en aged by the marking bars 25 and 26 and mar ed so that its orientation in the well hole can be determined after elevating the drill to the surface of the well. The

' construction of the electrical motor and gearor gearing which would otherwise act to deform or disintegrate the same.

In other words, I consider myself the first to have invented a core drill which will drill out, secure and bring to the surface, cores or drilling samples in their true and original position, oriented in such a manner as to furnish the exact dip and strike of the underground formation, by a non-rotated removal of the cores or drilling samples from a well hole to the surface.

lVhile the articular form of the invention herein described is well adaped to carry out the objects of the invention, it is to be understood that many modifications and changes may be made without departing from the in vention, and the invention includes all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A core drilling apparatus comprising a stationar core receiving barrel having means for attac ing the same to a string of pipe leading to the surface of the well, a core cutting means revolvably mounted adjacent to the lower end of said core receiving barrel for cutting and feeding a core thereinto, a motor for driving said cutting means. means for revolvably sup orting said motor in said well, and means or passing flushing fluid from the supporting drill pipe to said cutting means.

2. A core cutting apparatus comprising a supporting member and means for supporting the same in stationary position in the bottom of a well hole, a core receiving barrel secured to said supporting member so as to be held from rotating in said well hole, an electric motor revolvably supported on said supporting member, and core cutting means revolvable on the axis of the well bore and driven by said electric motor and revolvable adjacent to the lower end of said stationary core receiving barrel for cutting and feeding a core thereinto.

3. A core cutting apparatus comprising a supporting member and means for supporting the same in stationary position in the bottom of a well hole, a core receiving barrel secured to said supporting member so as to be held from rotating in said well hole, an electric motor revolvably supported on said supporting member, core cutting means driven by said electric motor and revolvable adjacent the lower end of said stationary core receiving barrel for cutting and feeding a core thereinto, said core cutting means being revolvable on the axis of the well bore, and reduction gearing between said motor and said core cutting means.

4. A core cutting apparatus comprising a supporting member and means for supporting the same in stationary position in the bottom of a well hole, a core receiving barre] secured to said supporting member so as to be held from rotating in said well hole, an electric motor revolvably supported on said supporting member, core cutting means driven by said electric motor and revolvable adjacent the lower end of said stationary core receiving barrel for cutting and feeding a core thereinto, reduction gearing between said motor and caid core cutting means, and means for marking the core in the barrel.

5. A core drilling apparatus adapted to be supported and operated in a well hole on the lower end of a stationary string, of drilling pipe, said core cutting apparatus comprising an electric motor, a core cutting means, a re duction gearing connecting said core cutting means to be driven by said electric motor, casing means housing said electric motor and said reduction gearing and packed against entrance of fluid from said well, and a stationary core receiving barrel having its lower end disposed to receive the core formed by said core cutting means.

6. A core drilling apparatus adapted to be supported and operated in a well hole on the lower end of a stationary string of drilling pipe, said core cutting apparatus comprising an electric motor, a core cutting means, a reduction gearing connecting said core cutting means to be driven by said electric motor, casing means housing said electric motor and said red ction gearing and packed against entrance 1* Fluid from said well, a stationary core receiving barrel having its lower end disposed to receive the core formed by said core cutting means, and a slip joint for connecting said apparatus to said drill pipeoperative to permit said apparatus to retract on overload. i

'7. A core drilling apparatus adapted to be supported and operated in a well hole on the lower end of a stationary string of drilling pipe, said core cutting apparatus comprising an electric motor, a core cutting means, a reduction gearing connecting said core cutting means to be driven by said electric motor, casing means housing said electric motor and said reduction gearing and packed against entrance of fluid from said well, a stationary core receiving barrel having its lower end disposed to receive the core formed by said core cutting means, and means for marking the core as it is received in said barrel.

8. A core drilling apparatus adapted to be supported and operated in a well hole on the lower end of a stationary string of drilling pipe, said core cutting apparatus comprising an electric motor, a core cutting means, a reduction gearing connecting said core cutting means to be driven by said electric motor, casing means housing said electric motor and said reduction gearing and packed against entrance of fluid from said well, a stationary core receiving barrel having its lower,

end disposed to receive the core formed by said core cutting means, and a core anchoring plug slidable in said core receiving barrel for engaging the upper end of the core and maintaining the same against rotation.

9. A core drilling apparatus adapted to be supported and operated in a well hole on the lower end of a stationary string of drilling pipe, said core cutting apparatus comprising an electric motor, a core cutting means, a reductiongearing connecting said core cutting means to be driven by. said electric motor, casing means housing said electric motor and said reduction gearing and packed against entrance of fluid from said well, a stationary core receiving barrel having its lower end disposed to receive the core formed by said core cutting means, and a plurality of inwardly bowed core guiding and marking bars within said core barrel.

10. A core drilling apparatus adapted to be attached to a string or casing and operative at the bottom of a well hole, said device comprising means for rigidly attaching a core barrel to said strin of pipe so that said core barrel may be held against rotation, means for mounting a motor, a core cutting means at the lower end of said core barrel revolvably mounted and connected to be driven by said motor, said connecting means including a pluralty of similar stages of reduction gearing, means forenclosing the reduction gearing and electric motor from contact with the fluid in the well and retaining therearound a lubricant, and means for assing flushing fluid from the supporting rilling pipe to said core cutting means.

11. A core drilling apparatus adapted to be attached to a string of casing and operative at the bottom of a well hole, said device comprising means for rigidly attaching a core barrel to said string of pipe so that said core barrel may be held against rotation, means for mounting a motor, lower end of said core barrel revolvably mounted and connected to be driven by said motor, said connecting means including a plurality of similar stages of reduction gearing, means for enclosing the reduction caring and electric motor from contact with t e fluid in the well and retaining therearound a lubricant, means for passing flushing fluid from the supporting drilling pipe to said core cutting means, and-means for marking a core upon its entrance into said core receiving barre 12. A core cutting apparatus comprising a supporting member and means for supporting the same in a stationary position in the bottom of a well hole, a core receiving barrel secured to said supporting member so as to be held from rotating in said well hole, an electric motor revolvably supported on said suporting member, core cutting means driven y. said electric motor and re-volvably adj oining the lower end of said stationary core receiving barrel for cutting and feeding the ber, core cutting means driv a core cutting means at the core thereinto, and flushing passages in said core cutting means positionedin a slight angle in a direction opposed to that at which the core cutting means revolves.

13. A core cutting apparatus comprising a supporting member and means for supporting the same in stationary position in the bottom of a well hole, a core receiving barrel of slightly tapering interior section secured to said supporting member so as to be held from rotating in said Well hole, an electric motor revolvably supported on said supporting member, core cutting means driven by said electric motor and revolvably adjoining the lower end of said stationary core receiving barrel for cutting and feeding a core thcreinto, bearings between the core receiving barrel and the core cutting means, and reduction gearing between said motor and said core cutting means. I

14. A core cutting apparatus comprising a supporting member and means for supporting the same in stationary position in the bottom of a well hole, an electric motor revolvably supported on said supporting memen y said electric 'motor and revolvably adjoining the lower end of a stationary core receiving barrel secured to said supporting member reduction gearing between said motor and said core cutting means, casing means housing said electric motor and said reduction gearing, and mow T packing between said housing and the III 

